Ratchet socket-wrench



C. C. LE CHOT.

RATCHET SOCKET WRENCH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 13, 1919.

'1 28,087 Patented an. '13, 1920.

CHARLES C. LE CHO'I; OF AKRON, OHIO.

RATGHET SOCKET-WRENCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 13, 1920.

Application filed February'iB, 1919. Serial No. 276,878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES C. Ln 01101,

a citizen of the United States, residing at vide a novel and improveddevice of thisgeneral character wherein a ratchet is yieldingly held inengagement with the socket whereby said ratchet and socket are caused torotate in unison and whereby said ratchet andsocket have independentmovement one relative to the other when the nut or the like has beenbrought to desired tightness.

The invention consists in the details of construction and in thecombination and arrangement of the several parts of my improvedratc hetsocket wrench whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenientand advantageous for use, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

The novel features of my invention will hereinafter be definitelyclaimed.

In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will nowproceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevationillustrating a wrench constructed in accordance with an embodi ment ofmy invention and engaged with a nut' 2 is a view in elevation of theworking end of the body as herein disclosed;

Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the working face of the head of theshank, as herein included;

Fig. 4: 1s a fragmentary view partly in section and partly in e'levationillustrating a supplemental chuck adapted for use in connection with myimproved wrench, and,

Fig. 5 is aview in elevation illustrating an attachment whereby myimproved device can be employed in connection with screws or the like. 7

'As disclosed in theaccompanying drawings, 1 denotes a cylindricalmember of desired dimension, and which is provided in one end face witha socket 2 to receive the work, such as a nut N. The opposite endportion of the member 1 is provided with a pocket'or chamber 3 open atits outer end, and which is adapted to be closed by the cap l. The cap 4at its axial center is pro .vided with an opening'5 through, which isdisposed an elongated shank 6. The exterior end portion of the shank 6is adapted to be engaged with any suitable source of power for rotatingthe same.

The base or inner end of the pocket or chamber 4 is provided with aratchet 7 having its side walls in convergence with the angle ofconvergence as desired. The ratchet 7 is adapted to snugly fit within anotch 8 formed in the opposed face of a head 9 carried by the inner endportion of the shank 6. The side walls of the notch 8 are arranged onsubstantially the same angle of inclination as the side walls of theratchet 7 sothat under normal conditions the mem-v ber 1 will rotate inunison with the shank 6.

The head 9 is normally maintained in looking engagement with the member1 through the instrumentality of the expansible member 10 interposedbetween the cap 4 and the head 9. As herein disclosed the expansiblemember 10 comprises a coil spring encircling the shank 6.

During the working operation the expansible member 10 maintains themember 1 and the shank 6 in looking engagement until the resistanceoffered by the work is sufficient to overcome the tension of theexpansible member, whereuponqthe shank 6 will rotate independently ofthe member 1.

By this means a series of nuts or the like,

may be applied with uniform tightness, and with the breaking of the nutor twisting of the bolt or screw avoided.

The strength or tension of the expansible member 10 determinesthetightness of the either largerorsmaller than the socket 2 in themember 1. This chuck C is provided with a shank 11, which is snuglylocated within the socket 2, so that said chuck C may be'properlyengaged or coupled with the member 1. v

The base of the socket-2 is provided with a recess or pocket 12,substantially spherical in form, and which is adapted to receive thespring members or fingers 14, carried by the outer end of the shank 11whereby the chuck C is effectively maintained in applied position.. I

Inpractice it is my intention to. provide a plurality of chucks G withthe sockets therein of different sizes.

When it is particularly desired 'to employ my improved device inconnection with screws or the like I employ a shank 15 of a character'similar to a screw driver and which is provided at one end with a head16 adapted to snugly fit within the socket 2,

g and the outer face of the head 16 is provided with the spring membersor arms 17, adapted to engage within the recess or pocket 12 to maintainthe shank 15 in work ing position; I From the foregoing description, itis thought to be obvious that a ratchet socket wrench constructed inaccordance with my invention is particularly. well adapted for use byreason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembledand operated and it will also be obvious thatmy invention issusceptible'of some change and modification without departing from theprinciples and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formationof the several parts herein 7 shown in carrying out my invention inpractice'except as hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. A wrench of the class described com- I prising a socket memberprovided with a compartment, an operating shank extending within thecompartment, said shank and a Wall of the chamber being provided with aratchet interlock and yieldable means for normally maintaining saidinterlock.

2. A Wrench of theclass described comprising a socket member having achamber in. an end portion, an operating shank extending within saidchamber, a ratchet interlock between a wall of said chamber and shankfor holding said shank against rotation and an expansiblemember coactingwith the shank and the first named member for normally maintaining saidratchet interlock.

3. A wrench of the class described comprising a socket member having achamber in an end portion, an operating shank, extending within saidchamber, a ratchet interlock between a wall of said chamber and shankfor holding said shank against rota tion, and an expansible membercoacting with the shank and the first named member

